245 Responses

WTF? I thought we were past this sort of stereotyping these days. Bad Russell! Go sit on the naughty step and have a long think about what you've said. Time starts now...

The use of 'your mum' by tech geeks might have something to do with the 'fact' (ie statement I'm basing entirely on observation and anecdotal evidence and not thinking about too hard) that most times when they're being asked to set up a system for someone with no tech nous, it's a woman. It's the grandmas who want a computer so they can email their grandkids, look at photos, take up blogging. The grandads are all busy being curmudgeonly and discovering that they're now old enough to use words like 'new-fangled'.

Plus, I'd add that a phone is probably more useful to an African farmer who has work to do and crops to sell than to a dole recipient in Auckland, who doesn't.

Oh come now. How are the bludgers our country is seemingly awash with supposed to arrange their p deals without a phone?

I wonder how long before "World of Warcraft" becomes an essential of life. Coz without it, you know, you might have to go outside - and thats scary, with people and cars that might kill you and bad weather that could freeze you to death.

I wonder how long before "World of Warcraft" becomes an essential of life. Coz without it, you know, you might have to go outside - and thats scary, with people and cars that might kill you and bad weather that could freeze you to death.

...and worst of all, your online character could get killed while you are away.

I know you were not being that serious about phones not being essential, particularly as you admit to having at least two of them. Of course you can survive without one, but quality of life is substantially diminished, even for dole bludgers.

Yeah I got the 'Go Large' plan too. Now I can't get a fixed IP address because that would interfere with Telecom's ability to switch your IP any time you start peering. Still, at least it doesn't cost me hundreds every month now.

... eek, does this mean peeps on Go Large can't set up their system with a static IP address? Does Telecom poo-poo this by making something not work if you do?

And how, prey-tell, could one tell if Telecom was 'switching your IP' ..?

he reckons the companies taught these illiterate rural african women to text using some sort of phonetic pictograms, and they took to it

Really? So rather than simply charge a reasonable rate for voice calls, they teach 'illiterate' 'Africans' a whole new written language so they have a use for cellphones? Surely the pinnacle of free market beneficence...

(I think the jury's still out on the sexism of 'your mum', though. I'm just not sure about it.)

It's not just the sexism aspect of it, it's also the agism - and I know my comment didn't explain that very well, sorry. I work to bridge gaps in technology knowledge and uptake, and I think it doesn't really help to have a such a simplistic stereotypical definition of people who might not "get it" because everybody has a different level of experience in different areas.

When I was younger 'your mother' were fighting word & not a clip around the ear either.

If it was big talk or a joke the guys I knew didn't take it that way at all.

And back to landlines - we often don't klnow our neighbours, people in our communities are isolate our family friends are scattered and for good health/socialisation a phone is essential in NZ.

Telecom need to be held accountable for not providing the Public Share. A simple pre-pay no-frims local landline that can't accept collect calls (often a burden in some societies) & can't make them either.

Who really needs caller ID? - How about you pick up the phone & say Hello?

"What did you do if you were late?" "Well son, in those day, people just had to suck on it".

Entire episodes of Seinfeld rely upon communication disasters that now seem irrelevant. Watching them now is a bit like watching a Shakespearean play where the plot hinges on a letter being dispatched on horseback. The enjoyment isn't diminished, but it seems like a period piece, and reminds one that interpersonal dynamics and social norms are sometimes radically altered by technology.

Really? So rather than simply charge a reasonable rate for voice calls, they teach 'illiterate' 'Africans' a whole new written language so they have a use for cellphones? Surely the pinnacle of free market beneficence...

sigh - we in Dunedin get forgotten again - maybe I should start shovelling my $$ to someone other than Orcon

Dunedin, along with all major population centers in NZ, is definitely on our roadmap.

In order to get an exchange opened up for us to install our equipment we must apply. All access seekers (telcos who want to unbundle) are applying for exchanges to be opened up, and the most popular ones get unbundled first.

We have asked for those exchanges where we have the most existing customers to be unbundled first, and will continue to do so. Currently the exchanges with the most Orcon customers are predominantly in Auckland, with some in Wellington and Christchurch, and then the odd exchange in the other centers. So in fact if you are keen for us to get to Dunedin sooner the best thing you can do is convince 10 of your friends to make the switch now.